Our mission
“We are the people we have been waiting for.”
Evan Mawarire
The Nehemiah Project stands to provide an empowering environment in which young clergy can explore the tool of organizing in order to strengthen democracy. Leaders of faith in recent history have repeatedly occupied powerful roles in civil rights struggles, stood up to those who have trodden on democracy, and served as catalysts for positive change. The Nehemiah Project seeks to utilize the takeaways and emulate the spirit of past movements rooted in Christian civil disobedience. In the United States, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his network of clergymen mobilized their churches, the black community, and Christians of other races to demand civil liberties for black people. In South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu led a movement against apartheid and led a reconciliation commission to heal the wounds of a brutal past. By compiling a change-maker’s toolbox of avenues and tactics, we support clergy leaders in continuing to rise to the challenges they face alongside their congregations. The following biblical teachings can be applied to defending the marginalized, demanding good governance, denouncing injustice, and encouraging active citizenry:
- Justice and fairness
- Mercy and compassion
- Transparency and truth
- Servant leadership and character
- Good governance and peace
- Forgiveness and reconciliation